Image source, Reuters

Tifo: The phenomenon whereby tifosi of a sports team make a visual display of any choreographed flag, sign or banner in the stands of a stadium,most commonly seen in important matches, local derbies, and rivalries.

The banner wasn't the only visual representation of Rodri's win over Vinicius Jr; fans at the Etihad brought along a replica Ballon d'or too.

Goading your rivals is a part of football, but, ultimately, you need to win the game for the jibe to stick.

Did the stunt backfire on City? And what other tifo banner moments spring to mind.

Send us your thoughts on the usual channels: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Real Madrid may not be at their best just yet, but they still possess the talent and nous to get the job done in most Champions League circumstances that confront them. This is the time of the season when they come alive.

Carlo Ancelotti was, for him at least, animated at some points as a succession of chances came and went for Real, who posed a threat all night.

When Mbappe drew them level with a scuffed finish, these ruthless campaigners went for City's throat, only for Haaland's penalty to throw them off course with 10 minutes left.

No matter for a team that has been around this block more than any other, scenting City's fatigue and victory, which was duly delivered when Bellingham turned home the winner with seconds left.

Ancelotti, who has seen and done it all, saw his side pull off the sort of victory that is their trademark, making them a feared proposition as long as they remain in the Champions League.

Real Madrid are confident at The Bernabeu even if they have a deficit in the tournament they regard as their personal property. It is hard to see how Manchester City turn this around in their current state.

Manchester City

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The bright light for Manchester City last night was Erling Haaland, who commentator Jon Champion on Amazon Prime called City's "plunderer in chief".

It took the Norway striker five attempts but he finally scored his first goal against Real Madrid - then added a second for good measure.

The 24-year-old has now scored 49 goals in 48 Champions League games.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Last night's game was thrilling to watch precisely because both sides have weaknesses that give the opposition a chance.

Neither Manchester City nor Real Madrid are capable of blocking up the midfield areas, which is essential against top class teams.

Whoever gets through next week could come up against Atletico Madrid in the last-16. I suspect Atletico would be too streetwise for either.

Liverpool, Barcelona and Inter Milan look far more likely Champions League winners than Manchester City or Real Madrid this season.

Manchester City

Manchester City have failed to win a game in which they were ahead in all competitions this season on 10 occasions (D5 L5) - the most of any Premier League club in 2024-25.

Image source, PA Media

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Ageing squad, running out of steam, legs have gone. All phrases that were used to describe Manchester City last night.

Chief football writer Phil McNulty highlighted in his feature that, you can read here: "Pep Guardiola is currently presiding over a team with too many miles on the clock, too many players not fully fit – or not fit at all in Rodri's case. The cracks are starting to look beyond repair, rather more in need of major renovation."

So, before Guardiola begins his City 2.0 rebuild, what does he think is going wrong with his team this season?

"We are just not stable enough," he said "I've been here for many years and we've been an extraordinary team, a machine every three days.

"This year, I accept when the opponent is better but at the moment I'm not good enough to give composure to the team to manage these situations. It's the truth."

Chris Waddle
Former England winger on the Football Daily podcast

I thought Man City deserved a draw. I thought Real Madrid carried a threat and always looked dangerous but I thought City managed the game pretty well - first half especially.

Second half they dropped off the pace and slowed it right down but when they went 2-1 up you thought the game plan had worked but this is Real Madrid and they live for this competition.

Unfortunately for City they look like they've picked up a few injuries as well. I thought a few of the players looked physically tired, you could say that.

It's going to be a massive task to get a result now.

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This was the fourth successive season - and the fifth in six - that the two teams have met in the knockout stages of the tournament.

Real won on penalties when the pair faced off in the quarter-finals last year and Carlo Ancelotti's side went on to win their 15th title.

"They know our history, everything we do in this competition," Vinicius Jr added.

Any thoughts of the Brazilian one day making a move to the Premier League have probably been dashed with this next quote.

"It is the fifth time we come here, it is always very cold, but this time we have won and we have to continue this," he said.

The early forecast for Madrid next Wednesday is rain.

Image source, Reuters

How many of you sang the words when you saw this banner? Probably all of us.

Rodri's Ballon d'Or win was used as a gentle prod at Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr after the Brazil winger missed out on the prestigious prize last October. Real ended up boycotting the ceremony in Paris because they felt their player had deserved the award.

Did Vinicius see the banner? Yes. Did it give him extra motivation? Also yes.

"Whenever the opposing fans do things like that they give me more strength to have a great game and here I have done it," the 24-year-old told Movistar.

Daily Mirror

The back pages are filled with the bright orange kit of Real Madrid this morning, the Mirror leading writing Manchester City "implode" in he final 10 minutes and now face an uphill struggle to avoid waving goodbye to the Champions League at the play-off stages.

Top of the page focuses on the Merseyside derby, with Liverpool boss Arne Slot saying he wants "cool heads but not cool legs".

Image source, Mirror

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's big Champions League night started with flashes of the old form re-emerging, only to end in bitter disappointment as the failings that have characterised their disappointing season surfaced once more.

With Jack Grealish probing and Erling Haaland providing the cutting edge, City made the perfect start. It was a bitter blow when the former went off injured after half an hour.

Real had already started to pose a threat through the pace of Kylian Mbappe and the trickery of Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior, but the pivotal moment for City came when Haaland's deflected shot bounced back off the bar. A two-goal lead might have made a significant difference.

The 15-time champions then started to apply remorseless pressure on City, who were overcome by tired legs and were actually labouring badly when Haaland put them back in front against the run of play late on.

Once again, key men such as Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne looked like players with too many miles on the clock, while Ruben Dias and John Stones have been managing their game time carefully.

And in that agonising conclusion, City went from thinking they might take a lead to The Bernabeu, to settling for a draw, then suffering the pain of defeat.

Image source, Getty Images

Taking a draw to the Bernabeu next week wouldn’t have been the worst thing for Manchester City, but Jude Bellingham's injury-time winner has dealt Pep Guardiola's hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages a sucker punch.

The Etihad had plenty to cheer on 19 minutes when Jack Grealish and Josko Gvardiol combined to set up Erling Haaland to opening the scoring. Real Madrid then levelled in the second half through Kylian Mbappe's shinned goal.

Haaland's penalty on 80 minutes following Dani Ceballos' foul on Phil Foden looked to have given City some breathing space, only for former player Brahim Diaz to equalise with four minutes remaining.

A draw looked likely until England midfielder Bellingham finally hit the target after missing a few chances. His close-range effort was the last kick of the game and leaves the holders in control.

If you're running out the door early and haven't got time to stick with us all day, no problem. Just have a quick scan of the match reports from last night and we'll send you on your way.

Champions League play-off first legs

Manchester City 2-3 Real Madrid

Brest 0-3 PSG

Juventus 2-1 PSV

Sporting CP 0-3 Borussia Dortmund

FA Cup fourth round

Exeter City 2-2 Nottingham Forest (Forest win 4-2 on penalties)

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Hello, folks. We've made it to Wednesday - well done everyone.

Last night started perfectly for Manchester City but by the end of their Champions League play-off first leg with Real Madrid (wasn't a fan of that orange kit), it's the Spanish side who hold the advantage heading into the second leg next week.

What can Pep Guardiola do to turn things around? We'll have a look back at what went right and what went wrong for the City boss.

Nottingham Forest have booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup after beating 10-man Exeter City of League One on penalties at St James Park. Forest have a home tie against Ipswich Town next.

It's the big one on Merseyside tonight. Thankfully, the weather forecast is calm for the final derby to be played at Goodison Park. The emotions will be high on both sides; if Liverpool win this one, they'll go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table. If Everton triumph, it's bragging rights galore until at least the end of the month.

Let's dive in, shall we...